Adaptation
A characteristic or trait that has evolved in an organism to help it survive and reproduce in its environment.
Algae
Simple, autotrophic organisms that can perform photosynthesis. They range from microscopic phytoplankton to large seaweeds like kelp.
Benthos
Organisms living on or in the seafloor, including animals, plants, and microorganisms.
Biodiversity
The variety and variability of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or the entire planet.
Coral Reef
A diverse underwater ecosystem held together by calcium carbonate structures secreted by corals. They support a high diversity of marine life.
Ecosystem
A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
Estuary
A coastal area where freshwater from rivers and streams meets and mixes with saltwater from the ocean.
Marine Mammals
Warm-blooded mammals that live in the ocean, including whales, dolphins, and seals.
Mangroves
Tropical and subtropical trees and shrubs that grow in coastal intertidal zones, providing crucial habitat and protection for marine life.
Nekton
Organisms that actively swim in the water column, such as fish, squid, and marine mammals.
Nutrients
Chemical substances required for the growth and development of organisms, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and trace elements.
Ocean Currents
Large-scale movement of water within the ocean, driven by wind, gravity, and differences in water density.
Pelagic Zone
The oceanic zone that includes the water column and is divided into several sub-zones based on depth and light penetration.
Photosynthesis
The process by which green plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light energy into chemical energy, producing oxygen and organic compounds.
Phytoplankton
Microscopic, photosynthetic organisms that form the base of the marine food web.
Plankton
Small and microscopic organisms drifting in water, including phytoplankton and zooplankton.
Reef Builders
Organisms like corals and some mollusks that construct and maintain coral reefs through their calcium carbonate skeletons.
Seagrasses
Flowering plants that grow underwater in shallow marine environments and provide habitat and food for marine life.
Symbiosis
A close and long-term interaction between two different biological organisms, which can be mutualistic, commensal, or parasitic.
Thermocline
A layer in a body of water where the temperature changes rapidly with depth.
Tides
The regular rise and fall of sea levels caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun.
Upwelling
The process by which deep, cold, nutrient-rich water rises to the surface, often leading to high biological productivity.
Zooplankton
Microscopic animals that drift in the water and feed on phytoplankton and other small organisms.